Despite many challenges, New Jersey Stage reached over one million unique visitors for the third straight year in 2024. The website published over 3,900 articles during the year, including 930 feature articles or featured event previews and 600 columns. All in all, over 2.7 million articles were read and more than 400,000 event listings were read.
"This was a year in which we had to navigate major changes to social media sites, such as publishers being penalized for simply linking to stories," explained Gary Wien, publisher of NewJerseyStage.com. "And we had to rework the coding behind nearly every page of our website to accomodate changes to search engines. So, reaching the same number of users as we did in 2023 was a win for us and we look forward to what we can accomplish in 2025."
New Jersey Stage increased its reach on social media to over 18,500 users across Facebook (8,000 followers), X (formerly twitter 6,500 followers), Instagram (2,500 followers), Threads (800 followers), and Bluesky (700 followers). New Jersey Stage joined Bluesky in November and joined Threads in July 2023. All of our social media accounts are found at "@NewJerseyStage". In addition, we have another 3,500 social media followers for our music-related site, ThePenguinRocks.com on X, Facebook and Bluesky.
"New Jersey Stage celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024," added Wien. "It is one of the longest running websites covering the arts in the state and the only one to offer affordable advertising for the arts. We are very proud to have advertisers that range from small choral groups to some of the biggest performing arts centers in the state. With banner ads for $50 per month and event listings at just $10, we continue to offer promotion that every arts organization can afford. This is possible because we only have one employee who works with several writers and photographers that volunteer their services."
For more information on New Jersey Stage advertising, click here. One of the best values around is our event listings, which provide an individual webpage for each performance - all for just $10! For example, a theater company can promote a play for $10 and receive an individual web page for each performance. Each performance is also promoted in our events of the week columns each Tuesday. These columns are always among our most read articles of the week.
Press releases and article pitches can be sent to info@newjerseystage.com and there is never a cost to have a press release run. The way the website is designed, event previews are run when we first get the release with the stories being brought back to the main page the week of the event. Event previews are also spotlighted every Tuesday in our events of the week columns. There are columns just for theatre and music, and one column that lists all events for the week.
"We are reaching out to arts councils, arts professionals, writers, and artists to offer column space throughout the year," said Wien. "I view New Jersey Stage as a hub for the arts and we are ready to expand. If you are interested in writing for New Jersey Stage or are interested in having your work 'syndicated' at NewJerseyStage.com, please contact us at info@newjerseystage.com. Note: we do not offer compensation other than a byline and link to your website or social media, but we have a nice audience that can expand your reach."
Here are the top 5 most read articles of 2024 at New Jersey Stage.
1) "A Johnny Mathis Christmas" LIVE! at MPAC - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at MPAC in Morristown, NJ this Saturday December 7, 2024 evening as music lovers excitedly await a sold-out A Johnny Mathis Christmas concert by the legendary pop vocalist Johnny Mathis.
2) Liz Cheney Scheduled to Speak at NJPAC Days Before The Election - (NEWARK, NJ) -- Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney will be speaking at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Cheney served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. The event begins at 3:00pm.
3) An Interview with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night of Blackmore's Night - Long before Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night created the renaissance folk rock band Blackmore’s Night, Ritchie told Guitar World that he longed to play medieval music.
4) NJPAC Announces Lineup for 2024 Sounds of the City FREE Concerts - (NEWARK, NJ) -- Experience an amazing lineup of diverse artists under the stars this summer at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for exciting, FREE concerts during the Horizon Sounds of the City series every Thursday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. The series unites Newark's cultural diversity by bringing together residents, workers, and visitors for unforgettable evenings of great music, food, and fun. This year's lineup includes Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, Afrobeat singer and artist Kofi Kinaata, New Orleans funk band Galactic f. Jelly Joseph, rap icon KRS-One, and New Orleans bounce singer Big Freedia. Some performances will also showcase a guest poet from Dodge Poetry, as well as local opening talent and NJPAC's student performers.
5) Ocean Casino Resort Transforms into Seaside Winter Wonderland - (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City is transforming into a magical seaside winter wonderland filled with festive seasonal offerings and holiday décor at every turn. From magical attractions to themed suites and a local holiday market, head to Ocean for a surfside escape filled with holiday cheer.
